Forecasters are still finding good skiing on sheltered northerly aspects. Start your trip early and plan to be back at the trailhead before the daytime heating and/or solar radiation effects the snowpack. Check out Avalanche Canada's blog on Spring Conditions for some good tips.
Wind slab were observed on all aspects in the alpine. These may be more sensitive to triggering where the underlying crust is prominent.
Watch for sheltered northern areas where this layer may still exist. If triggered slabs could step down into the basal layers.
Loose wet avalanches are not likely on Thursday given the cloudy and cool forecast, but be mindful that at this time of year any short bursts of solar radiation could be enough to trigger slides.
One recent sz 2.5 in the Miners Gully. Likely cornice triggered.
Wind slabs are evident in the alpine on all aspects. While these slabs are not deep, they could be sensitive to triggering where the underlying surface is a smooth crust. Otherwise, expect a melt-freeze surface layer (or near surface) on all solar aspects as well as all aspects at lower elevations. Higher elevation northerly aspects still hold dry snow. Cornices are starting to sag in the mid-April heat, and some recent collapses have been observed.
Timing is everything. As surface crusts break down during the day the stability will begin to decrease. Start early and finish early.
Friday looks to be mainly clear with a daytime high of -3C and freezing levels around 2300m. No new snow is foreast and winds are expected to be light out of the NW.
More details can be found in the Mountain Weather Forecast.
